As Katie finished, the TedX emcee, Brian Snyder, was effusively positive about her talk just as the audience had been in their response to Katie as she spoke. Brian referred to Katie as the next Suzanne Collins, author of the Hunger Games trilogy.

My first thought was, “Yes, absolutely. Katie is definitely the next Suzanne Collins!”

The next thought was “No, absolutely not. The world next needs Katie and all of her electrifying energy, her contagious spirit and her super power intellect.”

When you are complimented by being told you are the next Oprah, the next Christiane Amanpour, or the next Rosa Parks, it is just that. A compliment and not a dictate of a particular path that you must now follow – the path established by the person to whom you are being compared.

Your job is to continue blazing the path. Making it wider. Establishing new paths for all of the individuals whom you will in turn inspire.

That next thing that the world needs at this very moment is perfectly, perfect you. Just like the world needs Katie Mattie and all of her epic Iron Woman brilliance at this very moment!